Building-block.



No, 757,033. PATENTED APR. 12,1904.

R. T. FROST.

BUILDING BLOCK. APPLIOATION FILED 001'. 14, 1903.

N0 MODEL,

URB away 6% o fimvewm 6t MEI/62$; 5%; 7

Patented April 112, 1904.

PATENT EErcE.

ROBERT T. FROST, OF DOWS, IOW A.

BUILDING-BLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 757,033, dated Apri1 12, 1904. Application filed October 14:, 1908. Serial No. 176,974- (No model.)

To. all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT T. FRos'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dows, in the county of Wright and State of Iowa, have invented new and useful Improvements in Building-Blocks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in building-blocks, and has particular relation to an improvement in walls made of concrete or molded blocks.

The object of the invention is to provide a strong, durable, and simple masonry construction of thatclass wherein the walls are made of blocks of concrete or similar material having a continuous air-space from top to bottom and from side to side, thereby preventing the passage of frost and damp. The advantages of hollow walls or walls having a dead-air space are well known and require no extensive description.

I accomplish the object indicated by the use of blocks the bodies of which are spaced from each other and which have overlappingprojections, whereby the sides of the wall are held together.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective View of a portion ofa wall,showing the corner-block. Fig. 2 is a top view thereof, and Fig. 8 is a top view of a modification.

The blocks shown herein are interchangeable and are preferably molded of concrete or other similar material. They may be made of any desired size or. dimensions and ornamented on the outer face at pleasure. Each pf the course-blocks comprises a rectangular body 6, having parallel front and rear faces, and has on the rear face thereof, at the middle, a vertically-disposed boss or projection 7 equal in height to theheight of the block. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, this projection is semicircular in plan. In Fig. 3 it is angular. Each block is cut away at its ends, as indicated at 8, at the inner or rear corners thereof, to the extent and in a manner according to the size and shape of the corresponding boss or projection of the opposite block.

The

shape and size of the projections may be varied at pleasure,provided they are of sufficient size to overlap in the several courses.

The corner-block has a" continuous outer face extending around the corner and has a projection at the middle of its longest side, one side being twice the length of the other, so that when the courses are laid in alternation they will break joints at the middle of each block. The continuity of the air-space is preserved between the corner-blocks.

When built to form a Wall, the inner and outer blocks are backed to each other and the projections of the blocks of alternate courses overlap, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. The front and rear blocks are laid a sufficient distance apart so that an air-space 9 is left between the projections and the cut-away portions of the opposite blocks. This forms a continuous air-space both horizontally and vertically, and the projections lap and bind upon each other, thereby tying the wall in a secure manner Without cutting off the airspace. Also it will be seen that the overlapping projections furnish continuous vertical pillars from the ground up, thereby forming a solid bearing or foundation to receive joists or beams, and in making the blocks these projections may well be originally spaced the same distance apart as the joists are to be placed in the building, thereby adapting the Wall construction to the joist or beam construction.

It will be seenthat the engagement of the front and rear blocks does not interfere with the free passage of air from the top to the bottom of the wall and from side to side, which renders the wall impervious to frost and dampness, so that the wall-plaster may be directly applied to the surface of the inner blocks. This is advantageous as compared to those hollow walls which are but one block thick. Furthermore, no joint extends entirely through the wall; but the joints are broken between courses and also between the front and back of the wall. The liability of throughcracks opening in the wall is thereby obviated or lessened.

Whatl claim as new, and desire to secure by In testimony WhereofI have signed my name Letters Patent, is to this specification in the presence of two sulo- IO A corner building-block having a long side, scribing Witnesses. and a short side half the length of the long i 5 side, a projection at the middle of the back of ROBERT FRObT' the long side, of equal height to the block, Witnesses: and a recess of equal height to the block, at L. W. RUMMEL,

the inner end corner of each side. M. S. GUNDERsoN. 

